The GSM-19 is designed for handheld or base station operation in demanding environments. The entire system is sealed against rain and splashed water, and has a wide operating temperature tolerance. The instrument is designed to store magnetic field data for future retrieval by RS232, or display on a large graphic LCD.

The GSM-19 uses advanced data processing techniques to achieve 0.01nT sensitivity. In addition, different memory options allow the unit to store up to 700,000 readings without user intervention. A high-capacity battery is standard equipment, allowing over 13 hours of continuous operation at its maximum sampling rate, which can be as much as five readings per second. A large graphic LCD display not only allows the instrument to be fully programmable, but also can plot data as it is collected. Optional software features such as Walking Mode and built-in Garmin GPS-25LVC or Trimble GPS-LASSEN LP navigation mean that the unit can be operated with a minimum of operator attention, allowing the surveyor to pay attention to his/her surroundings.

The GSM-19's optional and unique omni-directional (isotropic) sensors are ideal for operations at low magnetic latitudes.

One very popular and powerful configuration for the GSM-19 is as a gradiometer. By measuring the difference in magnetic field between two close points, gradiometers can apply the full sensitivity of the instrument toward locating small magnetic anomalies that are not very distant.